Invisible

These strategies must be long-term and fully funded and include identification of carers, recognition of their individual needs and rights and access to personalised support.

Recognition, identification and support of unpaid carers requires strong collaborative working between health, social care, voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, especially as not all unpaid carers will identify themselves or recognise themselves as carers.

As laid out in legislation, as soon as someone identifies themselves, or is recognised as a carer, they should be offered the choice of becoming a carer and then of the levels of care they are comfortable to provide.

All family carers are entitled to a carer’s assessment which should identify the individual support needs of the carer. Contact with carers by health or social care professionals should be proactive, with regular outreach made by a named contact to check on a carer’s well-being and changing needs.

Dementia carers must be able to access quality and varied support and information which should be informed by and co-produced with carers.

It’s essential for carers’ well-being, and their longer term ability to provide care, that carers feel supported and understood by wider society.